Abdoulaye Diop is back as Mali’s FM amid chaos—fuel crisis, jihadist threats, and regime stress. Mali’s diplomat since 2003, now in hot seat again.
On April 10-11, 2026, Mali's transitional government withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This move aligns Mali with Morocco and the US-backed UN Security Council resolution, deepening regional divides with Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front seeking independence for Western Sahara.